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Italy Betting Sites, Bookmakers and Free Bets

The Italian sports betting landscape has changed several times over the past few years but it seems to have gained a lot of stability since the legalization of online betting. Italy now has a fully licensed and regulated gambling industry. For punters, betting in Italy has never been as good. The government was previously at odds with the EU over Italy’s gambling legislation which led to sweeping changes.

This resulted in the doors being opened to some of the biggest betting companies and now foreign bookmakers in Italy are acquiring licenses and offering their services to the very lucrative Italian sports betting market. This has sent a ripple through the Italian sports betting market as land-based wagering shops have seen a decline in business.

Summary of the article

Top 10 Betting Sites for Italy in 15 April 2024 – Updated List

Rank
Bookmaker
Bonus
Safe & Trusted
Rating
Get Started
1

Goldenbet Sports

100% up to €500
Yes
Rating 9.97 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
2

BetWinner

Exclusive: 100% up to €130
Use Promocode: GJBET
Yes
Rating 9.93 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
3

22Bet

100% up to €122
Yes
Rating 9.91 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
4

18bet

100% up to €100
Yes
Rating 9.87 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
5

William Hill

BET €10 GET €30
Yes
Rating 9.85 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
6

MyStake Sports

100% up to €500
Yes
Rating 9.81 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
7

Sportsbet.Io Sportsbook

N/A
Yes
Rating 9.75 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
8

Cloudbet

100% up to 5 BTC
Yes
Rating 9.65 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
9

ExciteWin Sports

100% up to €100
Yes
Rating 9.60 out of 10
See moreGet bonus
10

FreshBet Sports

100% up to 500 $/€/£
Yes
Rating 9.59 out of 10
See moreGet bonus

A Short History of Italian Betting Industry

  • Baccarat and bingo are games invented by Italians. This country is also the home of “Ridotto”, the first land-based casino in the world (opened in 1638 in Venice). 
  • Likewise, historians think that the popular dice game craps was also invented here: It was a game played by Roman soldiers and civilians. 
  • Plautus was the first Roman emperor that banned gambling. He thought that these activities set a bad example for young people. Emperors who came after him also continued to ban gambling. The laws were most harshly enforced in Rome, so gambling houses slowly began to move to areas far from the capital, such as Milan. This situation continues today: Currently, most land-based casinos are still located in Milan.
  • The gambling ban continued for many years but was never fully implemented. It was an activity controlled by the “underworld” for centuries and fell into the hands of the Sicilian mafia at the beginning of the 20th century.
  • There were two reasons why the Italian government legalized gambling in 2006: First, they realized that with the ban they had nothing to gain, and they were deprived of tax revenue. Two, most bans were already not possible under European Union rules.

Italian gambling laws and the future of them

The country recently announced that the online gambling laws in Italy will change as of 2023. The new laws coming into place will severely restrict the number of the best offshore bookmakers who can claim an Italian license. The idea is that the new laws will favor Italian betting companies and will even impact the number of betting shops in Italy open to players. For now, though, everything remains open, and you’ve got plenty of time to sign up and wager at the best betting sites in Italy.

In Italy, sports betting online is legal. The industry began to open up around 2006 but it was a hotly contested issue as the EU found that Italian policies were not compatible with EU policies.  The Italian online betting laws were restructured and in 2010, international companies began to receive licenses.

Italian online bookmakers and land-based Italian gambling companies go through a rigorous and in-depth application process and are tightly regulated and monitored. With a wealth of bookmakers in Italy to choose from, there is no real reason to play at offshore domains.

The status of Italian Betting Market

Naturally, some Italian bookmakers have flocked to obtain licenses of their own, although many of Italy’s betting sites remain offshore operations. The horse racing sector, while still relatively strong, has also seen a drop in its bottom line. No such drop seems to have occurred with the Italian football betting market, though, which is just as lively as ever. As the market sorts itself out, Italian punters are reaping the benefits.

They have much more choice with access to the international betting sites and this has sparked steady growth in the amount being spent on the internet betting. With our guide to the best betting sites in Italy, you’re can learn about where to play if you wish to engage in Italian football betting, how to take advantage of bonuses when you bet in Italy, and much more besides. But first, a word of warning for the future…

To summarize the status of online betting in Italy, here is everything you need to know: 

  • Since 2006, both land-based and online gambling has been legal. However, until 2010, non İtalian bookmakers were not permitted to operate in the country. Casino and sports betting services could only be provided by local operators. 
  • In March 2010, this changed, and the government allowed non Italian bookmakers to get a license too. At the moment, this license is provided by AAMS (Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato – Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies). This is a branch of the Excise, Customs, and Monopolies Agency (ADM). 
  • There are lots of conditions to qualify for a license. The operator must be located in one of the EU countries, pay 350.000 EUR for the application, and prove that it already managed games with a turnover of at least 1.5 million Euros in the last 2 years. 
  • However, there is a “trick” here: There is a limit on how many licenses can be issued each year. For example, only 40 licenses were available in 2020. All licenses are valid for 9 years. 
  • The web address of all AAMS-licensed online casinos and Italian bookmakers end with “.it”. 
  • The tax rate for online casino winnings is 20%. For sports betting, this rate is 22%. However, only the operators need to pay these taxes: Italian customers can enjoy their winnings tax-free. 

Top Italian Bookmakers in 2023

Italian sports bettors collectively wager a lot of money each year and it is only natural that the biggest bookmaker brands in the world are doing their best to tap into the market. This means that Italian sports bettors have their pick of the world’s top-rated bookies such as William Hill, 18Bet, and Betfair. These, of course, represent the best betting sites in Italy.

These Italian accepting bookmakers are trusted worldwide to deliver the most competitive odds on the widest range of betting markets, with an emphasis on Italian football betting. Punters know that when they use online bookmakers like William Hill and 18Bet that they are going to be treated fairly, securely, and receive fast and hassle-free payouts. This also has a lot to do with the payment methods they provide. As they are also Trustly betting sites you can be sure your personal information and banking details will be protected. Some of our recommended betting sites for Italian players are instant withdrawal bookmakers meaning withdrawal times can get as low as 15 minutes.

These internet bookies have built great reputations wherever they operate by offering great customer service, easy to navigate platforms, and the latest options like cash out betting, Acca promotions, and pool betting. Italian sports bettors can’t go wrong when they sign up at pool betting sites. There are a few oddities when it comes to Italian betting. Several Italian betting sites have started to serve up cryptocurrency options. Indeed, a few sites, such as Sportsbet.io even specialise in offering digital currency sports betting in Italy. Mobile gambling apps offer a different way for an Italian to bet, too. As you may have noticed, the sites listed above are hardly Italian betting companies, but international gambling companies. Italy has very few homegrown bookies at the moment, but that may be set to change by 2023. Even so, any of these top domains are legal and well worth a punt.

Betting online at Italian Bookmakers: A simple guide

Step 1
Choose one of our recommended Italian bookmakers and visit its site.
Step 2
Complete the membership process, log in, and make your first deposit. (Don't forget to get your bonus.)
Step 3
You will see a list of all supported sports on the left side of the home page. Selecting anyone will open a list of supported matches for that sport.
Step 4
Choose any of these matches: The betting options and odds you can use will be displayed in the middle of the screen.
Step 5
Choose one and enter the bet amount. (You can make multiple selections if you want.) All your selections are transferred in real time to the slip on the right of the screen.

The favorite sports of italian bettors

Without a doubt, soccer is number one in participation, attendance, and wagering action. Most of the revenue raised at bookmakers in Italy comes from football. Serie A is the most wagered on competition, followed by the Champions League. Italian betting companies also specialise in Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and La Liga odds, so profitable football betting can span many different markets. Italy has the second most successful football team in World Cup history (the first one is Brazil) and it has won several FIFA World Cup championships to date. The Serie A clubs are known worldwide, and some people even think that modern football was invented in Italy, during the Roman Empire period.

Swimming, diving, water polo, and rowing are some of the more popular aquatic sports while wrestling, cycling, and auto racing are widely followed. Other favorites include basketball, volleyball, rugby, and golf. Italian bookmakers ensure that these options are open to players, too. Alternatively, players are still at liberty to pop into betting shops in Italy, if they don’t fancy signing up to online betting sites.

In this regard, we can say that tennis, F1, and horse racing are quite popular too, just like football. Italians invented beach tennis and won Davis Cup & Fed Cup multiple times. Sara Errani, Flavia Pennetta, and Roberta Vinci are among the most famous tennis players in the world. Italian Open is one of the largest tennis tournaments and is considered as the most prestigious tennis event after French Open.

As for F1, Ferrari is probably the most successful Formula 1 team in the world and its world champions (i.e. Jody Scheckter, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen) are recognized worldwide. As can be guessed, these are also the most popular sports at bookmakers in Italy. If you are interested in them, start by reading our virtual football betting, tennis handicap betting, how to bet on horses, and how to win big on football bets guides.

Sports betting bonuses and free bets in Italian Market

Italian betting sites have a great variety of betting bonuses and sign up free bets to choose from and they are easy to get. Betting in Italy with promos and bonuses is possible. However, the types of offers you can claim at Italy’s bookmakers tend to be more measured than with sites operating offshore, on account of them being regulated nationally. William Hill’s 100% match up to €100 is a fine example of this. Players can claim larger bonuses worth up to €350 with TornadoBet, and other €100 bonuses can be claimed from 18Bet and Robet247. Any of these Italian gambling sites and laws can provide you with a juicy starting offer.

Some of the globally popular domains to accept Italian bets are IVI Casino Sports and Sportsbet.io. These offer more reserved offers, such as IVI Casino Sports‘ 100% match up to €50. However, both domains are renowned for offering one-off sporting promotions, too. These include tidy deals on major sporting events and represent some of Italy’s best bets. Some of these top bookies also offer betting apps that work in Italy, and special mobile-only bonuses can be snapped up with those.

These bonuses are a cinch to claim and hard to pass up. Many more great bonuses are found at Gamblingjudge.com as well as in-depth bookmaker reviews and other helpful information that will assist you in finding new bookies with our new bookmakers 2024 guide. If you’re based in Italy and fancy betting on sports, you can’t go wrong when choosing one of our recommended top 100 bookmakers. Be sure to read the terms and conditions that apply to your bonus. Many look the same but they have different requirements for procurement and usage.

Best payment methods for online betting in Italy

Further Information

Italy has a strict censorship policy for bookmakers without an AAMS license. More than 600 operators’ sites have been blocked so far and this number continues to increase. These sites are not only blocked, but there are also various problems with payments made to them. When playing at an AAMS licensed Italian betting site, you can take advantage of all the payment options available to you (more on this below), but if you are playing at an international operator, you should choose payment methods that do not use the local banking system.

Therefore, if you are playing on non-AAMS licensed sites, we recommend using cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals. Bitcoin is the most popular of these currencies and we have a guide about Bitcoin bookmakers and betting sites. But it is not your only option: you can also use next-generation cryptos such as Ethereum and Dogecoin. (Check out the guides we have prepared about Ethereum betting and Dogecoin betting sites.) Whichever cryptocurrency you prefer, you can make money transfers without any problems. 

Payment options of Italian bookmakers online

Tip

You can choose from many payment methods when playing at an AAMS licensed Italian betting site. Which one you choose is a purely personal choice, but we recommend the following methods:

In order not to experience exchange rate problems, choose Italian bookmakers that support Euros. (You can see them all in our Euro bookmakers and betting sites list.) Also, do not forget that in addition to all these methods, you can also use cryptocurrencies at AAMS licensed Italian betting sites. 

Pros & Cons of Bookmakers in Italy

PROS

  • All forms of gambling are legal
  • Gambling winnings are tax-free
  • Lots of payment options are available

CONS

  • Operators without AAMS license are blocked
  • Mobile betting options are limited

FAQ About Italian Bookmakers

Yes, but you need to find the right sportsbook. Bookmakers Italian elections option is offered at our recommended Italian bookmakers, so we recommend starting from there.

Yes, online betting (and land-based gambling) has been legal in Italy since 2006. And since 2010, any international operator can get a license to offer its services to Italian bettors.

Euro is the official currency of Italy, so you can make a deposit & withdrawal at an Italian betting site with Euro. However, other currencies are supported too.

Players and bettors do not pay a tax for their gambling winnings. Operators, on the other hand, must pay a 20% - 22% tax based on their net income.

There are lots of Italian bookmakers that are worth your time and money, but they are not “fixed”. The list of the best bookmakers in Italy constantly changes and we recommend checking our up-to-date lists to find the best Italian betting site for you.

We picked the best Italian Bookmakers for you

We don’t want you to waste time looking for the best Italian bookmakers: We already picked them for you according to our detailed criteria. You can check our list of the biggest bookmakers in the world or simply pick an Italian betting site mentioned in this article. No matter which option you prefer, we are sure that you will have fun and make lots of money. Place a bet in the Italian language and pay with Euro: Whether you are interested in post-ante or live betting bonuses, we have the best bookmakers in Italy for you. Good luck!

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